Fibrinogen from transgenic animals

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a method for the part purification of fibrinogen from milk, the method comprising the transfer of protease enzyme which is present in the milk, into the whey phase with the removal or partition of fibrinogen into another phase of the milk. The present invention also provides a method for obtaining fibrinogen from a fluid, the method comprising: a) contacting the fluid with a hydrophobic interaction chromatography resin under conditions where the fibrinogen binds to the resin; and b) removing the bound protein by means of elution.

This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 09/814,371,filed Mar. 22, 2001, which is a continuation of internationalapplication PCT/GB99/03193, published in English, having aninternational filing date of Sep. 24, 1999, which claims the benefitunder 35 U.S.C. 119(e) of the filing date of provisional applicationSer. No. 60/103,321, filed Oct. 7, 1998, abandoned, and the filing dateof provisional application Ser. No. 60/103,319, filed Oct. 7, 1998,abandoned.

This disclosure is concerned generally with protein purification fromfluids, in particular, but not exclusively from milk and specificallywith the purification of human fibrinogen from the milk of transgenicnon-human animals.

Fibrinogen, the main structural protein in the blood responsible for theformation of clots exists as a dimer of three polypeptide chains; the Aα(66.5 kD), Bβ (52 kD) and γ (46.5 kD) are linked through 29 disulphidebonds. The addition of asparagine-linked carbohydrates to the Bβ and γchains results in a molecule with a molecular weight of 340 kD.Fibrinogen has a trinodal structure, a central nodule, termed the Edomain, contains the amino-termini of all 6 chains including thefibrinopeptides (Fp) while the two distal nodules termed D domainscontain the carboxy-termini of the Aα, Bβ and γ chains. Fibrinogen isproteolytically cleaved at the amino terminus of the Aα and Bβ chainsreleasing fibrinopeptides A and B (FpA & FpB) and converted to fibrinmonomer by thrombin, a serine protease that is converted from itsinactive form by Factor Xa. The resultant fibrin monomers non-covalentlyassemble into protofibrils by DE contacts on neighbouring fibrinmolecules. This imposes a half staggered overlap mode of building thefibrin polymer chain. Contacts are also established lengthwise betweenadjacent D domains (DD contacts) leading to lateral aggregation. Anotherserine protease, Factor XIII is proteolytically cleaved by thrombin inthe presence of Cav into an activated form. This activated Factor XIII(Factor XIIIa) catalyses crosslinking of the polymerised fibrin bycreating isopeptide bonds between lysine and glutamine side chains. Thefirst glutamyl-lysyl bonds to form are on the C-terminal of the γ chainsproducing D-D crosslinks. Subsequently, multiple crosslinks form betweenadjacent Aα chains, the process of crosslinking imparts on the clot bothbiological stability (resistance to fibrinolysis) and mechanicalstability [Sienbenlist and Mosesson, Progressive Cross-Linking of Fibrinγ chains Increases Resistance to Fibrinolysis, Journal of BiologicalChemistry, 269: 28414-28419, 1994].

The coagulation process can readily be engineered into a self sustainedadhesive system in vitro by having the fibrinogen and Factor XIII as onecomponent and thrombin and Ca⁺⁺ as the second component which catalysisthe polymerisation process. These adhesion systems, know in the art as“Fibrin Sealants” or “Fibrin Tissue Adhesives” have found numerousapplication in surgical procedures and as delivery devices for a rangeof pharmaceutically active compounds [Sierra, Fibrin Sealant AdhesiveSystems: A Review of Their Chemistry, material Properties and ClinicalApplications, Journal of Biomaterials Applications, 7:309-352, 1993].

It has been estimated that the annual US clinical need for fibrinsealants is greatly in excess of the 300 Kg/year that can be harvestedusing the current cryoprecipitation methods used by plasmafractionaters. Alternative sources of fibrinogen, by far the majorcomponent in fibrin sealant, have therefore been explored withrecombinant sources being favored [Butler et al., Current Progress inthe Production of Recombinant Human Fibrinogen in the Milk of Transgenicanimals, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 78: 537-542, 1997]. It has beenshown that mammals are capable of producing transgenic human fibrinogenat levels of up to 5.0 g/L in their milk making this a commerciallyviable method for the production of human fibrinogen [Prunard et al.,High-level expression of recombinant human fibrinogen in the milk oftransgenic mice, Nature Biotechnology, 14:867-871, 1996; Cottingham etal., Human fibrinogen from the milk of transgenic sheep. In: TissueSealants: Current Practice, Future Uses. Cambridge Institute, NewtonUpper Falls, Mass., Mar. 30 Apr. 2, 1996 (abstract)].

Differences have been identified between recombinant human fibrinogenand fibrinogen which has been purified from human plasma. Fibrinogenwhich has been purified from human plasma has two alternately splicedgamma chains (γ and γ′). In contrast, recombinant human fibrinogen onlyhas the major form γ. Further, the glycosylation of the beta and gammachains (there is no N-linked glycosylation of the alpha chain) ofrecombinant human fibrinogen differs slightly from that on plasmaderived fibrinogen, but is similar to the glycosylation found on otherproteins expressed in the milk of transgenic animals. In addition, theSer3 of the alpha chain of recombinant human fibrinogen is more highlyphosphorylated than Ser3 of the alpha chain of plasma derivedfibrinogen, although the difference in phosphorylation does not resultin functional differences. Also, there are detectable differences inheterogeneity caused by C-terminal proteolysis of a number of highlyprotease-sensitive sites on the alpha chain. Differences of a similarmagnitude are also observed between plasma-derived fibrinogen fromdifferent sources.

Milk is well known to contain a number of serine proteases; of these,the alkaline protease plasmin, which occurs in milk together with itsinactive zymogen plasminogen, is the most significant proteasecontributing to proteolytic activity. Plasmin(ogen) concentration varieswith health status of the animal e.g. mastitic animals exhibit increasedproteolytic activity. Also influencing the proteolytic activity of milkis stage in lactation i.e. late lactation is associated with higherconcentrations of plasmin [Politis and Ng Kwai Hang, EnvironmentalFactors Affecting Plasmin Activity in Milk, Journal of Dairy Science,72:1713-1718, 1989]. In milk, plasmin(ogen) is associated predominantlywith the casein micelles, although it can also be found to a lesserextent in whey [Politis et al., Distribution of Plasminogen and Plasminin Fractions of Bovine Milk, Journal of dairy Science, 75:1402-1410,1992].

Plasmin is the serine protease that is predominantly responsible for thedissolution of fibrin clots in vivo and its presence is essential forhaemostasis. It is very probable that any fibrinogen degradation productin milk is as a result of the action of milk proteases. Therefore, thepresence of plasmin or other proteases in milk can be detrimental to thequality of fibrinogen that is produced by the lactating transgenicanimal if steps are not taken to minimize their effect. Of equalimportance is the removal of any fibrinogen degradation products thatmay result from the action of plasmin or other milk proteases. The useof protease inhibitors to minimize proteolysis is well established inthe art and usually involves the addition of a cocktail of inhibitors ofvarying specificity. With transgenic animals the possibility ofproteolytic damage to the recombinant protein has been realized andsuggestions have been put forward to limit degradation (Wilkins andVelander, Isolation of Recombinant Proteins from Milk, Journal ofCellular Biochemistry, 49: 33-338, 1992; Velander et al., PCT WO95/22249). However, increasingly effective methods are constantly adesideratum.

In the purification of proteins from milk, one requirement is theseparation of the desired protein from contaminating casein micelles.For the isolation of transgenic proteins such as AAT, the first step isprecipitation with PEG or other agent, such as ammonium sulphate. Thisdoes not precipitate AAT, but precipitates casein and is therefore agood way of removing casein from the AAT. However, when this teachingwas applied to transgenic fibrinogen in milk, it was found that not onlydid the casein precipitate, but that the fibrinogen precipitated withit. This was clearly not a suitable step for removing casein fromfibrinogen. Further, the fibrinogen in the casein/fibrinogen precipitatewas unstable and was very quickly proteolytically damaged, probably dueto the co-precipitation with protease enzymes. The problem was thus howto separate casein from fibrinogen-like proteins in a milk sample orfraction thereof. The separation of plasmin(ogen) from casein micellescan be accomplished by incubation with agents such as 6-aminohexanoicacid (ε-aminocaproic acid, εACA). However, 6-aminohexanoic acid alsoincreases the activation of plasminogen to plasmin which may accelerateproteolysis of any susceptible desired protein. Furthermore, theseparation of plasmin (or plasminogen) from casein micelles does notassist in the separation of casein micelles from fibrinogen-likeproteins.

Accordingly, there remains a need to separate desired proteins fromcasein micelles without accelerating proteolysis of the desired protein.

Human plasma fibrinogen appears heterogeneous by SDS-PAGE and othermethods for separating proteins based on size. A high molecular weightfraction (HMW Fibrinogen, Fibrinogen 1 or F1) with a molecular weight of340,000 daltons contributes approximately 50-70% of total fibrinogenantigen. Low molecular weight fibrinogen (LMW Fibrinogen, F1 brinogen 2or F2) with a molecular weight of approximately 300,000 daltonscontributes 20-40%. The residual amount, designated as low molecularweight′ fibrinogen (LMW′Fibrinogen, Fibrinogen 3, F3 or Fragment X) hasa molecular weight of approximately 280,000 daltons. It has been shownthat the major differences in these fibrinogen molecules results fromproteolytic damage to the carboxy terminus region of the Aα chains(AαC-terminal region) resulting in differing lengths of Aα chainC-terminus. Fibrinogen, purified from cryoprecipitate by the use ofprecipitation techniques has been shown to have partially digested Aαchain [Stroetmann, U.S. Pat. No. 4,427,650] Although it was firstthought that plasmin or plasmin-like enzymes were responsible fordegradation of F1 fibrinogen to F2 and F3 sub-families [Lipinska et al.,Fibrinogen Heterogeneity in Human Plasma Electrophoretic demonstrationand characterization of two major fibrinogen components, Journal ofLaboratory & Clinical Chemistry, 84: 509-516, 1974] it is apparent thatplasmin itself is probably not responsible for the direct proteolysis ofF1 to F2 fibrinogen [Dempfle et al., Fibrinogen Heterogeneity inHomozygous Plasminogen Deficiency Type 1: Further evidence that plasminis not involved in formation of LMW and LMW′-Fibrinogen, Thrombosis andHaemostasis, 77:879-883, 1997]. It has been suggested that F2 fibrinogenmay actually be a group of degradation products produced by severalenzymes including matrix metalloproteases [Nakashima et al., HumanFibrinogen Heterogeneity: the COOH-terminal residues of defective Aαchains of fibrinogen II, Blood Coagulation and Fibrinolysis, 3:361-370,19921. Recombinant fibrinogen expressed in CHO cells has also been shownto be heterogeneous comprising of F1 fibrinogen and a smaller F2-likesub fraction that is also lacking the C-terminal region of the Aα chainillustrating that the recombinant fibrinogen is also susceptible toproteolysis [Gorkun et al., The conversion of fibrinogen to fibrin:Recombinant fibrinogen typifies plasma fibrinogen, Blood 89:4407-4414].Similarly, recombinant human fibrinogen, produced in yeast, has alsobeen shown to possess an F2-like fraction having partially degraded Aαchains [Roy et al., Secretion of Biologically Active Fibrinogen byYeast, Journal of Biological Chemistry, 270: 23761-23767, 1995],demonstrating that Aα chain damage may be expected for a range ofexpression hosts. As well as the major F2 and F3 fragments, there exista range smaller fragments generated from fibrinogen termed FibrinogenDegradation Products (FDPs). F3 is also often referred to as a FDP.These FDPs (Fragment Y, D and E) are well characterized and can be foundin small amounts in human plasma.

Differences in the rate of clot formation, the structure of the finalclot and the mechanical properties of the final clot have been observedby various investigators for each of the major fibrinogen fragments.Also, the presence of FDPs, and their influence on the clotting progresshas been investigated. Gorkan et al., [Role of the αC domains of fibrinin clot formation, Biochemistry 33: 6986-6997, 1994] established that F1fibrinogen is 95% clottable while F2 fibrinogen is 92% clottable. Whiletotal clottability of these two fractions appears similar, a distinctdifference in clotting time i.e. onset of visible clot formationfollowing the action of thrombin, was observed with the F2 fibrinogenexhibiting a greater lag time before clot formation. This has also beenobserved previously (e.g. Holm et al., 1985, Purification andCharacterization of 3 Fibrinogens with different molecular weightsobtained from Normal Human Plasma, Thrombosis & Haemostasis, 37:165-176) where F1 fibrinogen was observed to have a clotting time of 14scompared to 20s for F2 and 25s for F3. Evidence therefore suggests thatthe extent of proteolysis of the Aα c-terminus influences fibrinpolymerization. The 3-dimensional structure of the clot is alsoinfluenced by the degree of degradation of the αC regions of fibrinogen.Clots formed from F2 and F3 fibrinogen exhibit a low degree ofprotofibril branching with increased porosity. It has been postulatedthat partially degraded fibrinogens are more prone to lateralaggregation of protofibrils. This leads to the formation of thickerfibers resulting in coarser clots as observed by light scatteringexperiments. Further evidence for the importance of the Aα chainC-terminus in clot formation arises from the fact that clots formed fromFibrinogen Milano III, a naturally occurring variant with truncated Aαchains exhibits a reduced degree of protofibril branching [Furlan etal., Binding of calcium ions and their effect on clotting of FibrinogenMilano II, a variant with truncated Aα chains, Blood Coagulation andFibrinolysis, 7: 331-335, 1995]. Differences in mechanical properties ofclots formed with different fibrinogen species has also been observedwhere clots formed from F2 and F3 appear less resistant to mechanicaldisturbances. Thromboelastography (TEG) reveals that clots made from F1fibrinogen are more elastic than clots formed from F2 fibrinogen[Hasegawa and Sasaki, Location of the binding site “b” for lateralpolymerisation of fibrin, Thrombosis Research, 57: 183-195, 1990].Elasticity is a preferred property for fibrin sealants whose use mayinclude application in joint or tendon surgery.

The C-terminal regions of the Aα chains also serve other purposesdistinct from clot formation. They enclose crosslinking sites for thetransglutaminase, Factor XIIIa where FXIIIa catalyses the formation ofisopeptide bond between adjacent fibrinogen molecules thereby addingstrength and stability to the clot. Crosslinking also increases theclots resistance to proteolysis and is responsible for localizing othermolecules involved in the clotting process to the surface of the clotmost notably α2-antiplasmin, which is covalently crosslinked into the Aαchains by Factor XIIIa further enhancing the stability of the clot toproteolytic degradation [Rudchenko et al., Comparative, Structural andFunctional Features of the Human αC domain and the Isolated αC Fragment,Journal of Biological Chemistry, 271: 2523-2530, 1996]. Fibronectin,Thrombospondin and von Willibrands Factor are also crosslinked into thisregion. The Aα C-regions are also important for enhancing the activationof plasminogen by tPA on the clot surface therefore leading to effectivefibrinolysis [Matsuka et al., Factor XIIIa catalysed crosslinking ofRecombinant αC Fragments of Human Fibrinogen, Biochemistry, 35:5810-5816, 1996]. It has also been postulated that the Aα C-terminus offibrinogen encloses specific recognition sites for platelet receptorslocated in residues Aα 572 through Aα574 [Hawiger, Adhesive ends offibrinogen and its adhesive peptides: The end of a saga, Seminars inHaemotology, 32: 99-109, 1995]. Platelet aggregation is essential forhaemostasis and therefore it may be expected that fibrinogen moleculeshaving degraded Aα chains would be less capable of aggregatingplatelets.

The importance of Aα C-terminal regions to fibrinogen properties hasinspired the development of techniques whereby fibrinogen moleculeshaving varying degrees of Aα chain proteolysis can be separated forstudy. Various methods have been described for the separation of themajor fibrinogen sub families and FDPs. For example precipitationtechniques have been used to separate F1 and F2 from purified fibrinogen[Sasaki and Kito, Simplified determination of fibrinogen sub-fractionsby glycine precipitation, Thrombosis and Haemostasis 42: 440-443, 1979].Holm et al., have described a method for the separation of purifiedplasma fibrinogen into F1, F2 & F3 subfamilies by using a series ofprecipitations with ammonium sulphate. F3, fragments Y, D and E havebeen separated based on size using size exclusion chromatography [Morderand Raphael Shulman, High molecular weight derivatives of humanfibrinogen produced by plasmin, Journal of Biological Chemistry,244:2120-2124, 1969]. These authors also demonstrated that F3 fibrinogenand FDPs Y, D and E actually possess anticoagulant activity and areinhibitory to clot formation; a non-desirable feature of a molecule usedto prepare a surgical adhesive. Most attention has been paid to theterminal degradation products D) and E which have been separated usinganion exchange chromatography [Kemp et al., Plasmic degradation offibrinogen: the preparation of a low molecular weight derivative offragment D, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 3:553-564, 1973], cationexchange chromatography [Rutjven Vermeer et al., A novel method for thepurification of rat and human fibrin(ogen) degradation products,Hoppe-Seyler's Z. Physiological Chemistry, 360:633-637] Lysine-SEPHAROSE(cross-linked beaded agarose) chromatography [Rupp et al., Fractionationof plasmic fibrinogen digest on Lysine agarose. Isolation of twofragments D, fragment E and simultaneous removal of plasmin, ThrombosisResearch, 27:117-121, 1982] and Zinc chelated affinity chromatography[Structural features of fibrinogen associated with binding to chelatedzinc, Scully and Kakkar, Biochim et Biophys. Acta., 700:130-133, 1982].In none of the above methods has the simultaneous separation offibrinogen into sub-fractions F1, F2 &F3 and FDPs Y, D & E beendescribed using a single technique.

As introduced above, plasmin is the serine protease that ispredominantly responsible for the dissolution of fibrin clots in vivoand its presence is essential for haemostasis. However, as discussedpreviously, while the participation of plasmin in Aα chain degradationof F1 to F2 and F3 is still under debate, it is very probable that anyfibrinogen degradation product in milk will be as a result of the actionof milk proteases. Therefore, the presence of plasmin or other proteasesin milk can be detrimental to the quality of fibrinogen that is producedby the lactating transgenic animal if steps are not taken to minimizetheir effect. Of equal importance is the removal of any fibrinogendegradation products that may result from the action of plasmin or othermilk proteases. The use of protease inhibitors to minimize proteolysisis well established in the art and usually involves the addition of acocktail of inhibitors of varying specificity.

From the above discussion, it is clear that the incorporation offibrinogen degradation products (F3 fibrinogen, fragments Y, D & E) andeven F2 fibrinogen into preparations whose end-use would be either as aheamostasis or sealing agents is not desirable. Techniques which can beincorporated into a purification of fibrinogen from the milk oftransgenic animals which reduce fibrinogen degradation products enablingfibrinogen with a defined Aα chain integrity to be produced for varyingapplications would be of considerable use.

The invention provides an efficient and effective method whereby aprotein produced in the milk of transgenic animals is recovered andpurified.

This patent application describes techniques whereby part-purificationof fibrinogen may be carried out. Precipitation techniques are usedwhich include chemical agents capable of disrupting the interactionsbetween protease enzymes and casein. Using these techniques it ispossible to segregate fibrinogen product from damaging protease activityin the early stages of processing and, subsequently, remove proteaseactivity. Precipitation is carried out in such a manner that enables thecollection of substantially purified (up to 85%) with very littleremaining protease activity. This absence of protease enzymes rendersthe fibrinogen more stable during subsequent processing thus improvingproduct yield and forgoing the necessity for expensive refrigerationequipment or toxic protease inhibitors which would have to be removed.

This patent application describes chromatographic techniques for thepurification of proteins, in particular fibrinogen from milk and for theremoval of fibrinogen degradation products (Fragments X, Y, D, E &C-terminal A chain fragments). Using these techniques it is possible topurify fibrinogen to up to and at least 99% pure. Also, use of thesetechniques allow for prior selection of fibrinogen molecules in aproduct with regard to the integrity of the A chain. Thus it becomespossible to select a fibrinogen product which could compose 100% F1fibrinogen of 80% F1 fibrinogen or any lower concentration of F1. As F1fibrinogen has superior functional characteristics with regard to clotelasticity, rigidity and stability, the ability to predetermine andtherefore select the F1 content enables a range of fibrinogen productsto be produced for varying purposes. The removal of degradation productsalso allows for a superior fibrinogen sealant in a controlled andreproducible manner.

Accordingly, the first aspect of the present invention provides a methodfor the part purification of a desired protein from milk, the methodcomprising the transfer of protease enzyme which is present in the milk,into the whey phase with the removal or partition of the desired proteininto another phase of the milk.

The desired proteins according to the present invention are any of thosewhich may be produced in milk, including naturally produced milkproteins and transgenic proteins. Preferred proteins according to thepresent invention are those having fibrinogen-like characteristics whichresult in co-precipitation with casein in the presence of PEG orammonium sulphate. Such proteins include, but are not limited to;fibrinogen, collagen, fibronectin, Factor VIII andalpha-2-macroglobulin.

The present invention is preferably in relation to the isolation oftransgenic proteins from milk, that is proteins produced as a result oftransgenic manipulation of an animal. This accordingly allows for theisolation of proteins, such as fibrinogen, collagen, fibronectin, FactorVIII and alpha-2-macroglobulin from animal milk which does not normallycontain such proteins. The present invention is useful for theproduction and isolation of individual proteins per se, or proteinswhich have been altered in some way to facilitate transgenic expression,such as by fusion to other proteins.

In the present text, the term “part purification” means purification toa level of from 50% free from other contaminants, preferably 60, 70, 80,90% free from other contaminants. Preferably the recovery rates are inthe range 50% to about 80%, more preferably in the range 65% to 85%.

The present invention is preferably in relation to the isolation offibrinogen, in particular transgenic fibrinogen from milk, that isfibrinogen produced as a result of transgenic manipulation of an animal.This accordingly allows for the isolation of fibrinogen from animal milkwhich milk does not normally contain such proteins. The presentinvention is useful for the production and isolation of fibrinogenprotein per se, or fibrinogen which has been altered in some way tofacilitate transgenic expression, such as by fusion to other proteins.

When the desired protein is fibrinogen, the method for the partpurification thereof is optionally followed by a method step comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting the part purified fibrinogen with a hydrophobic        interaction chromatography resin under conditions where the        fibrinogen binds to the resin; and    -   (b) removing the bound protein by means of elution.

Preferably the part purified fibrinogen, optionally to be furtherpurified by the steps a) and b) described above, is in a liquid form,either as a direct result of the first part of the method, or otherwise.

As used herein, the term “fibrinogen” refers to the main structuralprotein responsible for the formation of clots and includes the wholeglycoprotein form of fibrinogen as well as other related fibrinogenspecies, including truncated fibrinogen, amino acid sequence variants(muteins or polymorphic variants) of fibrinogen a fibrinogen specieswhich comprises additional residues and any naturally occurring variantsthereof. The same variations described in relation to fibrinogen alsoapply to other fibrinogen-like proteins which can be isolated from milkaccording to the present invention.

As use herein, “milk” is understood to be the fluid secreted from themammary glands in animals. Milk according to present invention includeswhole milk, skimmed milk, milk fraction and colosteral milk. It alsoincludes a milk-derived fluid where the desired protein, in particularfibrinogen, was originally produced in milk.

The present invention enables the part purification of the desiredprotein by transferring protease enzymes present in the milk away fromthe phase into which the desired protein is obtained. The proteaseenzyme is transferred into the whey phase (whey phase being thephase/portion/fraction of milk which contains predominantly non-caseinproteins) with the removal or partition of the desired protein intoanother phase of the milk. The removal or partition of the desiredprotein may be simultaneous to the transfer of the protease enzyme inthe whey phase. Alternatively, it is possible to have a two-stepprocess, whereby the protease enzyme is transferred first to the wheyunder conditions which retard proteolytic damage to the desired protein,followed by the removal or partition of the desired protein. Suchconditions can be constructed by using protease inhibitors or lowtemperature. The transfer of protease enzyme into the whey phasepredominately relates to the transfer of plasmin and/or plasminogen.Other milk proteases, such as serine proteases (alkaline or acid) mayalso be transferred.

The desired protein is recovered from the milk by the use ofprecipitation techniques well known to those in the art, such as by theuse of protein precipitation agents including, but not exclusively, PEG,sodium sulphate, ammonium sulphate, glycine or temperature. Theprecipitation is preferably carried out with generally lowconcentrations of the chemical precipitation agents (e.g. 5-20% w/vsodium and ammonium sulphate, 5-20% w/v glycine or β-alanine; 2-15% PEG)as this reduces co-precipitation of whey proteins.

The transfer of the protease enzyme into the whey phase of the milk ispreferably by the presence of lysine or lysine analogue such asε-aminocaproic acid or other basic amino acids, such as arginine orhistidine. The concentration of lysine or a lysine analogue according tothe invention depends on a number of factors such as the type of milkfrom which the desired protein is being purified, the amount of thedesired protein present and the manner of removal or partition of thedesired protein from the whey phase of the milk. Concentrationstypically range from 1 mM-2M, preferably 10-200 mM.

Most preferably, the method of the first aspect of the invention isrepeated at least once, and up to approximately four times. Thisrepetition can greatly increase the purity of the desired proteins inparticular in respect of contaminating micelles.

The method according to the first aspect of the invention increases thestability of the part purified desired protein toward proteolysis,especially when the desired protein is a transgenic protein.

In the optional second step of the first aspect of the invention, whenthe desired protein is fibrinogen, a hydrophobic interactionchromatography resin is used.

Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) resins are known in the artand include resins such as Butyl SEPHAROSE (Amersham PharmaciaBiotechnology), Phenyl SEPHAROSE (low and high substitution), OctylSEPHAROSE and Alkyl SEPHAROSE, wherein SEPHAROSE is cross-linked beadedagarose.

Conditions under which the fibrinogen is contacted with the hydrophobicinteraction chromatography resin to enable fibrinogen to bind to theresin include the presence of any “structure forming” salt (solution),such as ammonium sulphate, sodium sulphate and other salts as describedin: Melander and Horuath, Salt Effects on Hydrophobic Interactions inPrecipitation and Chromatography: An Interpretation of the LyotropicSeries, Archives of Biochemistry and Biophysics, 183:200-215, 1977 andSrinivason and Ruckenstein, Role of Physical Forces in HydrophobicInteraction Chromatography, Separation and Purification Methods, 9:267-370, 1980. Removal of the bound protein is by means of standardelution techniques known in the art. Such elution can be carried out bydecreasing the concentration of the structure forming salt, such asdecreasing the concentration of ammonium sulphate in the eluting buffer.Elution may be by gradient elution or more preferably, by a series ofsteps to predetermine and thus define the fibrinogen that is eluted fromthe column in terms of its sub-fraction ratios and hence its Aα chainintegrity.

Preferably, the optional method step of the first aspect of theinvention includes a step of washing the resin, to remove unboundcomponents, between steps (a) and (b). Washing the resin is usuallycarried out with a washing buffer which has the same concentration ofsalt in it that was used for loading. A higher concentration of salt inthe washing buffer is possible, but not preferred.

When the optional second method step of the first aspect of theinvention is used, it preferably achieves at least one of the following:

(a) increases the purity of the fibrinogen

(b) resolves the fibrinogen into its fractions

(c) enables isolation of higher integrity fibrinogen Aα chain.

Since the present invention takes advantage of genetic manipulation ofanimals in order to obtain proteins from transgenic sources (“transgenicfibrinogen”), the source of the fibrinogen can be carefully selected.Preferably, the fibrinogen is human, bovine or ovine derived (that is,corresponding essentially to human, bovine or ovine fibrinogen). Formedical purposes, it is preferred to employ proteins native to theintended patient. Thus human transgenic fibrinogen is preferred. Wherethe fibrinogen is recombinantly encoded, so that fibrinogen from aspecies other than the species in which it is being expressed, theglycosylation pattern may be different from the glycosylation pattern ofthe naturally occurring fibrinogen. A transgenic animal closer inbiological taxonomy to the source of the transgenic fibrinogen may thusbe preferred.

Clearly, any animal which produces milk, and, animals which can begenetically manipulated to produce transgenic fibrinogen in their milk,are preferred. In this respect, animals which lactate and producesuitable milk include sheep, cow, goat, rabbit, water buffalo, pig orhorse. Transgenic animals for the production of a transgenic proteinaccording to the present invention, do not include transgenic humans.

A second aspect of the invention provides a method for the partpurification of a desired protein from milk, the method comprisingprecipitation of the desired protein in the presence of lysine or alysine analogue. When the desired protein is fibrinogen, the method isoptionally followed by a method step comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting the part purified fibrinogen with a hydrophobic        interaction chromatography resin under conditions where the        fibrinogen binds to the resin; and    -   (b) removing the bound protein by means of elution.

A related second aspect of the invention provides for the use of lysineor a lysine analogue in the purification of a desired protein from milk(preferably transgenic protein). The use of the lysine or lysineanalogue in this aspect of the invention is preferably in combinationwith the precipitation of the desired protein.

All description and details with respect to the first aspect of theinvention, also apply to the second.

The present invention further provides a useful method wherebyfibrinogen is recovered from a fluid.

A third aspect of the present invention provides a method for obtainingfibrinogen from a fluid, the method comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting the fluid with a hydrophobic interaction        chromatography resin under conditions where the fibrinogen binds        to the resin; and    -   (b) removing the bound protein by means of elution.

The fluid-containing fibrinogen may be any. In particular, it is one ormore animal body-fluids such as milk, blood plasma or urine. It is, inparticular a fluid-containing fibrinogen which is or has been derivedfrom a body fluid of an animal (such as one of those described above)and/or a fluid which has been used to solvate the fibrinogen, forexample following a previous method step such as part-purification byprecipitation.

Any animal body fluid can be used according to the method of the presentinvention. Preferred body fluids include milk, blood plasma or urine.Clearly, the natural production of fibrinogen in some body fluids, suchas plasma, can provide an animal body fluid from which naturallyoccurring fibrinogen can be isolated. However, the present invention ispreferably in relation to the isolation of transgenic fibrinogen as aresult of transgenic manipulation of an animal. This accordingly, allowsfor the isolation of fibrinogen from animal body fluids which do notnaturally contain fibrinogen, such as milk and urine. The presentinvention is useful for the production of fibrinogen per se orfibrinogen which has been altered in some way to facilitate transgenicexpression, such as by fusion to other proteins.

The term “blood plasma” includes whole blood plasma and any fractionthereof. The term “urine” also refers to whole urine, or fractionsthereof, in particular concentrated urine.

Preferably the fluid is milk or a milk-derived fluid. In such situations(where the fluid is milk or milk-derived) the method according to thethird aspect of the invention may be optionally preceded by a methodstep comprising the part purification of fibrinogen from milk, themethod comprising the transfer of protease enzyme which is present inthe milk, into the whey phase with the removal or partition of thefibrinogen into another phase of the milk.

The optional preceding method step at least partially purifies thefibrinogen from milk, thus allowing a better purification and/orseparation of fibrinogen by virtue of the HIC method step.

Clearly, any animal which produces a body fluid which may be usedaccording to the third aspect of the invention is contemplated.Preferably, animals which can be genetically manipulated to producetransgenic fibrinogen in their milk, are preferred. In this respect,animals which lactate and produce suitable milk include sheep, goat,cow, camel, rabbit, water buffalo, pig or horse. These animals are alsouseful for the production of other body fluids according to theinvention. Transgenic animals for the production of a transgenic proteinaccording to the present invention, do not include transgenic humans.

In order to achieve the maximum result from the method according to thefirst aspect of the invention, it may be preferable to at leastpartially purify the fibrinogen from the animal body-fluid. Such apurification will depend on the body fluid from which the fibrinogen isderived and the nature of potential contaminates present. The fibrinogenis preferably purified to a level of from 20 through 40% beforeundergoing the method according to the first aspect of the invention.Any pre-purification method can be used, for example those known in theart, e.g. precipitation of fibrinogen as described in PCT WO 95/22249.The fact that the fibrinogen may already be part purified beforeapplication of the first aspect of the invention, does not detract fromthe fact the fibrinogen may have been originally produced in the bodyfluid of an animal.

All description and details in respect of features of the first andsecond aspects of the invention also apply to the third. The details ofthe option HIC step in the first and second aspects apply to the HICstep in the third aspect.

In accordance with the third aspect of the invention, a related thirdaspect provides the use of HIC in one or more of the following:

-   -   (a) increasing the purity of fibrinogen    -   (b) resolving fibrinogen into its fractions    -   (c) selecting of fibrinogen with high integrity of Aα chains        from fibrinogen in a fluid, preferably a body fluid from an        animal.

The use of HIC in the sixth aspect of the invention is preferably incombination with a salt solution as described according to the firstaspect of the invention. Relevant preferred features of aspects one andtwo also apply to the third. The use of the HIC in all relevant aspectsof the invention includes a batch format or a column format. In batchformat, the liquid may be contacted with the HIC resin in a well stirredtank. Separation of the HIC resin from the liquid may then befacilitated by sedimentation or be centrifugally assisted. In columnformat, which is preferred, the liquid is preferably pumped through acolumn into which HIC resin has already been added. Column formats arepreferred as they result in greater adsorption efficiency. This columnformat could be regarded as either a “Packed” or “Fixed” bed format.Further, “Expanded bed” or “fluidized bed” contactors may also beapplicable.

A fourth aspect of the invention provides a method for obtainingfibrinogen from a fluid, the method comprising:

-   -   (a) contacting the fluid with a hydrophobic interaction        chromatography resin under conditions where the fibrinogen binds        to the resin; and    -   (b) removing the bound protein by means of elution.

Where the fluid is milk or milk-derived (preferable), the methodaccording to the fourth aspect of the invention is optionally precededby a method step comprising the part purification of the fibrinogen frommilk, the method comprising precipitation of the desired protein in thepresence of lysine or a lysine analogue.

All description and detail of features of aspects one to three alsoapply to the fourth.

The milk from which the fibrinogen is to be part purified is preferablyderived from animals which can be “farmed” in order to producesufficient quantities of milk from which to obtain pharmaceuticalproteins and include sheep, cow, goats, rabbit, camel, water buffalo,pig or horse. Such animals may clearly be transgenically modifiedanimals. Preferably, although not exclusively, the transgenic protein isbovine or human derived. Human derived proteins are preferable as these,when isolated and purified for pharmaceutical use from the milk of atransgenic animal are less likely to cause an unwanted immunologicalreaction when administered to a human in need thereof for medicinalpurposes. The present invention does not relate to transgenicallymodified humans.

The plasminogen activation system in milk has been a focus of interestfor a number of years. It is generally accepted that milk contains theprimary enzymes responsible for fibrinolysis in vivo e.g. plasminogenactivator (both tissue type, tPA and urokinase type, uPA], plasminogenand plasmin. The action of proteolysis is often observed during storageof milk or milk products where casein appears to be the milk proteinmost susceptible to degradation. It was soon illustrated that in milk,plasminogen activators, plasminogen and plasmin were associated mainlywith the casein micelles and not in the whey (or serum) phase. Themechanism by which these molecules associate with casein has not beencategorically determined but it is probable that as these moleculescontain Kringle domians (structured polypeptide chains with an affinityfor basic amino acids) these domains probably mediate their interactionwith casein. Heegaard et al., 1997 [Plasminogen Activation System inHuman Milk, Journal of Paediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, 25:159-[66] have shown that casein immobilised on Sepharose is capable ofbinding tPA and when casein is present, the tPA catalysed conversion ofplasminogen to plasmin is accelerated. This seems to suggest that thejuxtaposition of casein, plasminogen and tPA results in enhancedplasminogen activation. The mechanism of enhanced activation is notclear but may be due to plasminogen undergoing a conformational changeon binding to casein resulting in a molecule more readily activated withtPA [Markus et al., Casein, A Powerful Enhancer of the rate ofPlasminogen Activation, Fibrinolysis 7: 229-236]. It is thereforeapparent that an agent (such as Lysine or Lysine analogue) added to milkin sufficient concentration will dissociate tPA and plasmin(ogen) fromcasein transferring them to the whey phase.

The consequences of this are that active plasmin and plasminogen arethen present in the same phase as the transgenic protein. In terms offibrinogen, as discussed above, the result of this is that proteolysis,especially of the Aα chain will occur. It is known in the art that εACAis relatively ineffective at inhibiting primary fibrinolysis i.eFragment X (F3) formation from fibrinogen or fibrin and it has beenpostulated that initial degradation of fibrin may occur independent ofnoncovalent plasmin-fibrin interaction (which is mediated throughkringle domains on plasminogen binding to basic amino acids in thefibrinogen Acc chain), unlike the later steps which result in theformation of fragments Y, D and E. Indeed it has been shown [Francis etal., Structural and Chromatographic Heterogeneity of Normal PlasmaFibrinogen associated with the Presence of Three γ-chain types withDistinct Molecular Weights, Biochimica et Biophysica Acta, 744: 155-164]that Aα chain proteolysis in commercial fibrinogen preparations proceedsduring chromatographic separation into fibrinogen sub-families even withthe inclusion of 20 mM ε-Aminocaproic acid and Aprotinin (a potentprotease inhibitor) at 10 Kallikrein units/ml. It is therefore apparentthat addition of E-Aminocaproic acid during the purification of humanfibrinogen from milk would have no beneficial, and even negativeeffects.

Paradoxically we have discovered that E-aminocaproic acid is a usefulaid in preventing degradation of fibrinogen during its purification frommilk if it is included during a stage which partitions the fibrinogen,such as a precipitation stage. The similarity between fibrinogen andcasein in terms of susceptibility to precipitation; a technique widelyused in the purification of fibrinogen from plasma and cryoprecipitate[e.g. Schwarz et al., U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,362,567; 4,377,572 & 4,414,976],and in the separation of casein from milk [Swaisgood, Developments indairy Chemistry-1: Chemistry of Milk Protein, Applied SciencePublishers, NY, [982] leads to the co-precipitation of at least part ofthe casein fraction when precipitating fibrinogen from milk usingprecipitating agents well known to those in the art (e.g. but notexclusively Zinc, Copper, sodium and ammonium salts, amino acids (e.g.glycine, alanine), alcohol (e.g. ethanol) and polymers (e.g.polyethylene glycol, dextran or hydroxyethyl starch. Even by addingthese precipitants at relatively low concentrations (e.g 5-20% w/vsodium and ammonium sulphate, 5-20% w/v glycine or β-alanine; 2-15% PEG)sufficient to precipitate fibrinogen or a majority fraction of it alsoco-precipitates a fraction of the casein phase including some wheyproteins. This can be reduced if the precipitation is carried out morethan once. The inclusion of ε-aminocaproic acid or a similar analogue oflysine during the precipitation stage (at a concentration of 10-200 mM)results in the dissociation of kringle containing proteins from caseinand fibrinogen and maintains them in the solution phase while thefibrinogen is precipitated. The method of protection of the fibrinogenis therefore one of exclusion. The precipitated fibrinogen can then bereconstituted in a suitable buffer and is not only significantly lesssusceptible to proteolysis but also significantly more pure. Such atechnique would works equally well if temperature is used as a method ofprecipitation. The added advantage of this invention is that not only isthe ε-aminocaproic acid preventing proteolytic damage to the fibrinogen,it does not contaminate the precipitated fibrinogen as it remains in thesolution phase.

A fifth aspect of the present invention provides transgenic fibrinogen,at least partly purified, having improved stability, in particular inrespect of proteolysis. All preferred features of the first to fourthaspects of the invention also apply to the fifth, even though thetransgenic protein of the fifth aspect may not necessarily be requiredto be produced according to the method of the first to fourth aspects.

All individual method steps described in aspects one to four areconsidered to increase the stability of the fibrinogen to proteolysis.

A sixth aspect of the invention provides fibrinogen, fibrinogen 1 (F1),fibrinogen 2 (F2), or a combination thereof, which has high integrity ofAα chains.

The seventh aspect of the invention provides fibrinogen, fibrinogen 1(F1), fibrinogen 2 (F2), or a combination thereof, obtainable by amethod according to the first to fourth aspects of the invention.

The fibrinogen, fibrinogen 1 and fibrinogen 2 are obtainable (havinghigh Aα chains) by virtue of the HIC step.

The fibrinogen 1 and/or fibrinogen 2, according to the sixth and seventhaspects of the invention are particularly preferred for use infibrinogen adhesives or sealants as described hereinbefore andhereinafter.

The fifth, sixth and seventh aspects of the invention preferably producefibrinogen which is substantially free from viral contamination. Suchfibrinogen can be more easily produced from non-blood products, such asthose from milk or urine.

An eighth aspect of the invention provides for purified fibrinogenobtainable according to any of aspects one to four of the invention asdescribed above. All description and details for aspects one to seven,also apply to the eighth.

The fibrinogen according to the invention may be in any suitable orconvenient state, such as in a lyophilised or soluble state.

A ninth aspect of the invention provides a fibrin adhesive or sealantcontaining fibrinogen according to the fifth to eighth aspects of theinvention. The fibrin adhesive or sealant according to the ninth aspectof the invention are, in all respects, with the exception of theparticular fibrinogen used, well known and standard in the art [Sierra,Fibrin Sealant Adhesive Systems: A Review of Their Chemistry, MaterialProperties and Clinical Applications, Journal of BiomaterialsApplications, 7:309-352, 1993; Martinowitz and Spotnitz, Fibrin TissueAdhesives, Thrombosis and Haemostasis, 78:661-666, 1997; Radosevich etal., Fibrin Sealant: Scientific Rationale, Production Methods,Properties and Current Clinical Use, Vox Sanguinis, 72:133-143, 1997].

As used herein, the term “fibrin adhesive” or “fibrin sealant” describesa substance containing fibrinogen which is capable of forming abiodegradable adhesive or seal by the formation of polymerised fibrin.Such adhesive/sealant systems are alternatively called “fibrin tissueadhesives” or “fibrin tissue glues”. The adhesive or seal may act as,inter alia a hemostatic agent, a barrier to fluid, a space-fillingmatrix or a drug-delivery agent. Particular use may be found inneurosurgery, opthalmic, orthopedic or cardiothoracic surgery, skingrafting and various other types of surgery.

Other than fibrinogen, the fibrin adhesive or sealant may containsubstances which encourage the formation of the fibrin adhesive/seal,such as thrombin, Ca⁺⁺ (e.g. CaCl₂) and Factor XIII (and/or Factor XIIIa[in his text, all references to Factor XIII are also references tofactor XIIIa and vice versa). While it is recognised that thrombin wouldbe the preferred enzyme with which to incorporate into any systemwhereby the formation of a fibrin clot is desired, it is appreciatedthat there are other enzymes capable of proteolytically cleavingfibrinogen resulting in the formation of a fibrin clot. An example ofthis would be the snake venom enzyme Batroxobin [Weisel andCederholm-Williams, Fibrinogen and Fibrin: Characterization, Processingand Applications, Handbook of Biodegradable Polymers (Series: Drugtargeting and Delivery) 7:347-365, 1997]. Other components such asalbumin, fibronectin, solubilisers, bulking agents and/or suitablecarriers or diluents may also be included if desired.

One advantage of fibrin sealant as a biodegradable polymer is that thereare natural mechanisms in the body for the efficient removal of clotsand thus the fibrin sealant may be a temporary plug for hemostasis orwound healing. Various proteolytic enzymes and cells can dissolve fibrindepending on the circumstances, but the most specific mechanism involvesthe fibrinolytic system. The dissolution of fibrin clots underphysiological conditions involves the binding of circulating plasminogento fibrin, and the activation of plasminogen to the active protease,plasmin, by plasminogen activators which may also be, also bound tofibrin. Plasmin then cleaves fibrin at specific sites.

Depending on the situation, it may be advantageous to let the naturalprocess of fibrin breakdown take place after applying a fibrin adhesiveor sealant to a site. Indeed, this breakdown may be encouraged, forexample, by the inclusion of plasminogen. Alternatively, in somesituations it may be advantageous to delay the process by includingantifibrinolytic compounds which can, for example, block the conversionof plasminogen to plasmin or directly bind to the active site of plasminto inhibit fibrinolysis. Such antifibrinolytics includeα₂-macroglobulin, which is a primary physiological inhibitor of plasmin;aprotinin; α₂-antiplasmin; and ε-aminocaproic acid.

The fibrin/sealant may comprise two components, one component containingfibrinogen and Factor XIII (and/or Factor XIIIA) and the other componentcontaining thrombin and Ca⁺⁺. Other substances as described above may beincluded in one or both of the components if desired.

A tenth aspect of the invention provides a kit for a fibrin adhesive orsealant comprising fibrinogen according to any one of the fourth toeighth aspects of the invention, and instructions for use or, maycomprise fibrinogen according to any one of the fourth to eighth aspectsof the invention in combination with (but not necessarily mixed with)one or more of: Factor XIII, Factor XIIIa, thrombin or Ca⁺⁺.Furthermore, the kit may comprise two components: fibrinogen with (butnot necessarily mixed with) Factor XIII (and/or Factor XIIIa) andthrombin with (but not necessarily mixed with) Ca⁺⁺.

The components of any fibrinogen sealant, according to the presentinvention, including the kit forms, may be used separately,simultaneously or sequentially.

All relevant description and details in respect of the first to ninthaspects of the invention also apply to the tenth.

An eleventh aspect of the invention provides a method for producing afibrin adhesive or sealant according to the ninth aspect of theinvention, comprising admixing fibrinogen with thrombin or any otherenzyme which is capable of proteolytically modifying fibrinogen andcausing it to clot. Factor XIII (and/or Factor XIIIa) and Ca²⁺ may alsobe mixed with the fibrinogen and thrombin (or other suitable enzyme) inthis aspect of the invention.

The method of admixing fibrinogen and thrombin may involve squirting orspraying the components simultaneously or sequentially to the repairsite with a syringe or a related device. The mixing may result from twosyringes held together along their barrels and at the plunders with twocomponents mixed either after exiting the needles or in the hub justprior to exiting. Other devices may be used to produce an aerosol or tospray in a variable pattern, depending on the application.

Although various derivatives of fibrinogen have been used in clinicalapplications for some time, there are several safety issues involved inthe clinical use of fibrinogen such as concern over viral contamination,especially with products containing fibrinogen or components preparedfrom human blood especially pooled human blood. Although improvements inviral cleansing techniques for blood products have been made since thefear of transmission of pathogenic viruses was brought to the surface,so that the risk of disease transmission has been greatly reduced, therisk has not been totally eliminated. The present invention, whichrelates to fibrinogen obtained from milk or urine, can be substantiallyfree from such a concerns.

A twelfth aspect of the invention provides fibrinogen, according to thefourth to eighth aspects of the invention, for use in medicine.Preferably the fibrinogen is used in human medicine. However, it mayalso be used in veterinary medicine such as for horses, pigs, sheep,cows, cattle, rabbits, mice and rats as well as for domestic pets suchas dogs and cats.

While the main use of fibrinogen is thought to be for the preparation ofadhesive or sealing agents as hereinbefore described, fibrinogen hasother applications in the field of medicine, for example as a coatingfor polymeric articles as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,272,074. Aparticular use of lyophilised fibrinogen of the present invention iswithin or part of a gauze or bandage (preferably made from polylaceticacid compounds used in surgical stitches). Such a wound dressing can besupplied (also incorporating the other components required for theformation of a clot (described above), optionally in a package or kitform, for application direct to the skin or to an internal organ. Alldetails and features of previously discussed aspects, also apply to thetwelfth.

A thirteenth aspect of the invention provides a fibrin adhesive orsealant, according to the ninth aspect of the invention, for use inmedicine.

The use in medicine may be any of those described herein. All detailsand features of aspects one to eleven, also apply to the thirteenth.

A fourteenth aspect of the present invention provides a method ofsurgery or therapy comprising placing fibrinogen according to the fourthto eighth aspects of the invention, on or within a animal or a body partof an animal. The animal in question is preferably in need thereof.Preferably the animal is a human. The fibrinogen may be mixed with oneor more of thrombin, Factor XIII, Factor XIIIa or Ca²⁺ separately,sequentially or simultaneously with the fibrinogen. The fibrinogen maythus be in the form of a sealant according to the ninth aspect of theinvention. The fibrinogen may be applied by squirting using a syringe ora related device. It may be applied very precisely in a localised areaor broadly over a wide area to any tissue. All details and preferredfeatures of aspects one to thirteenth also apply to the fourteenth.

A fifteenth aspect of the invention provides the use of fibrinogen,according to the fourth to eighth aspects of the invention in themanufacture of a fibrin adhesive or sealant.

In this invention, purification of fibrinogen is achieved or a preferredoptional step by the use of Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC)which is carried out in such a way that enables not only the separationof milk proteins, leading to a substantially pure product, but also thesimultaneous fractionation of fibrinogen into F1, F2 and degradationproducts. In general, fibrinogen, preferably partially purified byprecipitation, is contacted with a HIC resin (e.g. Butyl SEPHAROSE(cross-linked beaded agarose)) under conditions where the fibrinogen isretained (e.g. 0.2-0.8M, preferably 0.3 to 0.6M, ammonium sulphate). Theresin is then washed, either in batch fashion by centrifugation or byinclusion in a chromatography column. Elution of bound material isfacilitated by decreasing the concentration of salt (e.g. ammoniumsulphate in decreasing concentration 0.5 to 0M) in the mobile phase sothat resolution of fibrinogen from non-fibrinogen components isachieved. By careful selection of salt concentration, the fibrinogen isnot only separated from the majority of milk components but can also befractionated into subfamilies. Elution can either be carried out using adecreasing gradient whereby the slope of the gradient determines theresolution or, more conveniently, by use of a series of decreasing stepsof concentration. The use of HIC enables the fibrinogen product to bedefined with respect to its Aα C-terminal region.

The plasminogen activation system in milk has been a focus of interestfor a number of years. It is generally accepted that milk contains theprimary enzymes responsible for fibrinolysis in vivo e.g. plasminogenactivator (both tissue type, tPA and urokinase type, uPA), plasminogenand plasmin. The action of proteolysis is often observed during storageof milk or milk products where casein appears to be the milk proteinmost susceptible to degradation. It was soon illustrated that in milk,plasminogen activators, plasminogen and plasmin were associated mainlywith the casein micelles and not in the whey (or serum) phase. Themechanism by which these molecules associate with casein has not beencategorically determined but it is probable that as these moleculescontain Kringle domians (structured polypeptide chains with an affinityfor basic amino acids) these domains probably mediate their interactionwith casein.

It is realized that proteolysis of the human protein may occur withinthe mammary gland or udder of the lactating transgenic animal. Theincubation period of the transgenic protein in the mammary gland orudder can be approximated to the time period between milking of theanimal. Therefore it is apparent that increasing the frequency ofmilking minimizes this time period. However, increasing the frequency ofmilking to above 3 or 4 milkings per day not only creates a measure ofdiscontinuity for the animal but involves a cost addition to Dairyexpenses. It is accepted therefore that a measure of degradation of thehuman fibrinogen will occur. As discussed in the Prior Art, the presenceof fibrinogen degradation products in a fibrin tissue adhesivecompromises the usefulness of the product and therefore any degradationproducts must be removed. This invention discloses how the inventorshave discovered an extremely efficient way of achieving this which alsoallows the ratio of F1 and F2 fibrinogen in the final product to beselected and defined.

Techniques for the separation of plasma fibrinogen into its varioussub-fractions, as described in the prior art, generally fall into twocategories. Those which rely on the differential solubility ofsubfractions in high concentration of salts (e.g. ammonium sulphate andglycine), often refereed to as selective precipitation techniques [Holmet al., Purification and Characterisation of 3 Fibrinogens withdifferent molecular weights obtained from normal human plasma,Thrombosis Research, 37: 165-176, 1985], and those which take advantageof the fact that degradation products have a different molecular sizeand can therefore be separated using size exclusion chromatography.

The two categories of techniques described above are quite contrastingin their ability and ease of use, at industrially enabling scales, forsubfractionating fibrinogen. While precipitation techniques arerelatively easy to operate and scale, their inherent mode of separationdoes not allow for the extremely high levels of resolution that would berequired to ensure that the fibrinogen produced could be accuratelydefined with respect to its F1:F2 ratio and hence Aα. chain integrity.Indeed, advocates of this technique at the laboratory scale often reportcontamination of subfractions with each other [Lipinska et al.,Fibrinogen Heterogeneity in Human Plasma: Electrophoretic demonstrationand characterization of two major fibrinogen components, Journal ofLaboratory & Clinical Chemistry, 84: 509-516, 1974] and low yields.

In contrast to techniques based on differential solubility, sizeexclusion chromatography can potentially result in very good resolutionof fibrinogen sub-fractions in high yield. The main drawbacks of thistechnique are expense and scale. Although F1 & F2 fibrinogen and F2 & F3differ by some 35-40 Kdal, the size of the molecule itself (340 Kdal) isnear the limit of the fractionation range of most size exclusionmatrices. This results in poor resolution if expensive resins are notused. Another limitation is scale, as SEC is not a chromatographictechnique favored at process scale when subtle separations have to becarried out. Also, SEC is usually a very expensive technique as only asmall fraction of a column volume of material could be loaded whilemaintaining resolution.

Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography (HIC) is a separations techniquewhich exploits the binding of proteins to mildly hydrophobic resins inthe presence of low concentrations of salts which expose hydrophobicpatches on the surface of proteins. In the presence of these so-called“structure forming” salts, selective interactions can be initiatedbetween different proteins and the matrix. The technique is most oftenused to discriminate between different proteins in a heterogeneousmixture. The inventors have discovered that not only is HIC a very goodfractionation technique for the recovery of fibrinogen from a partiallypurified extract, it is also a surprisingly powerful technique forresolving fibrinogen sub-fractions i.e. F1, F2, F3 (Fragment X),Fragment Y and Fragments D & E.

Transgenic human fibrinogen, partially purified from milk is bound toHIC resins (e.g. but-not exclusively Butyl SEPHAROSE (cross-linkedbeaded agarose) 4FF Amersham Pharmacia Biotechnology) in the presence ofammonium sulphate or other “structure forming” salt at a concentrationenabling fibrinogen to bind e.g. a range 0.2-1.0M (preferably 0.3-0.6M)is used. By decreasing the concentration of ammonium sulphate in theirrigation buffer, the bound material elutes from the column in theorder milk components (0.485-0.37M ammonium sulphate), F1 fibrinogen(0.37-0.2M ammonium sulphate), F2 fibrinogen (0.2-0.14M ammoniumsulphate) and F3 fibrinogen and degradation products (0.10-0.0M ammoniumsulphate). The range of concentrations of ammonium sulphate over whichthe bound components elute is determined, in part, by the operatingconditions and those skilled in the art would be able to adjust eitherthe temperature or the pH or both to change the concentrations ofammonium sulphate over which the fractions elute. Using this techniqueit is possible by means of gradient elution or more preferably by aseries of steps to predetermine and thus define the fibrinogen that itis eluted from the column in terms of its F1 to F2 ratio and hence itsAα chain integrity.

This text refers to the accompanying figures of which:

FIG. 1 is SDS-PAGE of part purified fibrinogen from example A, in theabsence or presence of εACA.

FIG. 2 is a chromatogram illustrating the various fractions generatedfrom the HIC column in example 1. The chromatogram was generated usingUV at 280 nm.

FIG. 3 is SDS-PAGE of transgenic human fibrinogen elution from an HIC(Butyl SEPHAROSE (cross-linked beaded agarose) 4FF) column in example 1.

FIG. 4 is SDS-PAGE of transgenic human fibrinogen elution from an HIC(Butyl SEPHAROSE (cross-linked beaded agarose) 4FF) column in example 2.

FIG. 5 is chromatogram illustrating the various fractions generated fromthe HIC column in example 2. The chromatogram was generated using UV.

FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and 9 are RP-HPLC chromatograms for fibrinogen andfibrinogen fractions eluted from the HIC column using conditionsoutlined in examples 1 and 2. The chromatograms were generated using awavelength of 214 nm.

The following non limiting examples help to illustrate this invention.

EXAMPLE A

Milk from a transgenic ewe was thawed from a frozen state in a waterbath at 37° C. and then delipidated by low speed centrifugation (2000rpm) for 10 minutes. The skimmed milk was than aliquoted into 2×40 mlfractions and processed as follows. To one of the fractions was added 40ml of 27.6% (w/v) ammonium sulphate in 25 mM citrate, 100 mM εACA, pH8.0. The tube was mixed for 20 minutes at room temperature followed byhigh speed centifugation in a Beckman J2-21 centrifuge (15° C.). Thesupernatant generated was removed and the pellet dissolved in 25 mMcitrate, pH 8.0. Once dissolved up to 40 ml, the precipitation andresolubilisation was repeated as above. A final precipitation andresolubilisation step was then carried out, essentially as above exceptthat εACA was omitted from the salt solution. The same process as abovewas then repeated on the second 40 ml aliquot of skimmed milk exceptthat εACA was not used.

The Sodium Dodecyl Sulphate PolyAcrylamide Gel Electrophoresis(SDS-PAGE, 8-16%, Novex) shown as FIG. 1 illustrates the stability ofpart purified fibrinogen. Lane 1 represents fibrinogen part purified inthe presence of εACA and stored at 4° C. overnight. It can be seen thatthe fibrinogen is predominantly F1: F2. The degradation product.Fragment X(F3) is also present as a faster migrating band under the F1:F2 bands. Lane 2 represents material stored at 4° C. purified as in Lane1 except that εACA was absent during the precipitation stage. From Lane1 and Lane 2, it is evident that some F1 fibrinogen has beenproteolytically cleaved even during storage at 4° C. Lane 3 representsmaterial as in lane 1 except that storage was at 18° C. overnight. Ascan be seen this material appears to be more stable than that shown inLane 2 and in fact is very similar to that shown in Lane 1. Lane 4represents material purified in the absence of εACA after overnightstorage at 18° C. It is evident that this material has been severelydamaged and is almost lacking in F1 fibrinogen. This example serves toillustrate that fibrinogen, part purified from milk by precipitation, isunstable to milk protease action. This protease action may be diminishedby incubation at 4° C. but is abolished if the precipitation is carriedout in the presence of εACA which prevents milk protease contaminationof the precipitated fibrinogen.

EXAMPLE 1

Transgenic fibrinogen was, partially purified from the milk of atransgenic ewe by precipitation with ammonium sulphate, in a similarmanner as described in example A. 2 ml was made to 0.485M ammoniumsulphate by the addition of 1.45M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citrate, pH7.5 (1 ml). After mixing, the solution was pumped onto a HiTrap ButylSEPHAROSE (cross-linked beaded agarose) 4FF column (previouslyequilibrated with 0.485M ammonium sulphate, in 25 mM citrate buffer, pH7.5) at 0.1 ml/min. The column was washed with 2 column volumes of0.485M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citrate, pH 7.5 after which elution wascarried out in 3 steps 1) 0.40M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citrate, pH8.0, 2) 0.15M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citrate buffer, pH 8.0, 3) 5 mMcitrate, pH 8.0. The chromatogram presented below as FIG. 2 shows that 4major peaks were obtained from this experiment. The first peakrepresents material that does not bind to the column under theseadsorption conditions and is mainly sheep milk proteins. The second peakrepresents material that did bind to the column and was eluted with0.40M ammonium sulphate. The third peak represents fibrinogen andfractions taken across this are shown on a SDS-PAGE as FIG. 3. The cleardistinction between F1 (High molecular weight fibrinogen) and F2 (Lowmolecular weight fibrinogen) and the resolution obtained on thechromatography can be clearly seen (Lanes 1-5). Lane 6 represents thepooled peak while lanes 7 & 8 represent peak 4 from the chromatogramwhich can be seen to be F3 (Fragment X) fibrinogen. Thus it is evidentthat by changing the concentration of ammonium sulphate used for elutionit is possible to define eluted fibrinogen with respect to its Aα chainintegrity.

EXAMPLE 2

In another example which illustrates the scale-up potential of thistechnique, a procedure equivalent to example 1 above was scaled up by afactor of 400. Thus 0.9 g (790 ml) of transgenic human fibrinogen waspartially purified by precipitation in the presence of 50 mMε-aminocaproic acid. It was then made to 0.5M ammonium sulphate by theaddition of 790 ml of 1M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citrate buffer pH7.5. This material was loaded onto a column 5 cm×21 cm (400 ml) of ButylSEPHAROSE (cross-linked beaded agarose) 4FF at a flow rate of 20 ml/min.After loading, the column washed with 400 ml of 0.5M ammonium sulphatein 5 mM citrate buffer, pH 7.5. Bound material was eluted from thecolumn by irrigation with three buffers 1) 0.4M ammonium sulphate in 5mM citrate, pH 7.5, 800 ml 2) 0.15M ammonium sulphate in 5 mM citratebuffer, pH 7.5, 800 ml, and 3) 5 mM citrate, pH 7.5, 800 ml.

The SDS-PAGE and chromatogram shown as FIGS. 4 and 5 respectively, showresults for this experiment. As can be seen from the SDS-PAGE, F1:F2fibrinogen was eluted from the column by 0.15M ammonium sulphate (Lanes34, FIG. 4) while F3 fibrinogen was eluted using a step change to 5 mMcitrate, pH 7.5 containing no ammonium sulphate (Lane 8, FIG. 4).Reducing SDS-PAGE is a convenient way of determining Aα chain integrityas loss of Aα C-terminal regions results in a decrease in the Aα chainmolecular weight. This decrease is readily qualitatively assessed. InFIG. 4, Lane 6 shows a reduced F1:F2 fibrinogen with 10 mMdithiotheritol as the reducing agent. When this is compared to F3fibrinogen (Lane 8), the loss of Aα chain is clearly seen.

Quantitative information on Aα chain integrity can be obtained by theuse of Reversed-Phase High Performance Liquid Chromatography (RP-HPLC)on reduced fibrinogen according to Raut et al., [Ultra-rapid preparationof milligram quantities of the purified polypeptide chains of humanfibrinogen, Journal of Chromatography B, 660:390-394, 1994] which allowsfor integration of peak areas. FIG. 6 shows a RP-HPLC chromatogram forpurified F1 fibrinogen; the three fibrinogen chains elute from thecolumn in the order Aα, BP and y respectively; as can be seen, thereexists a single peak for each chain. Integration of the Aα chain resultsin a peak area which is used as a standard against which fibrinogen withdegraded Aα chains can be normalized. In FIG. 7, a RP-HPLC chromatogram,run under identical conditions to that in FIG. 6, is shown for F2fibrinogen where it is evident that the Aα peak has been separated intotwo peaks, the former being intact Aα chain and the latter being Aαchain being proteolytically cleaved at the C-terminus. Using on-lineintegration it can be calculated that the Aα chain exist as 73% intact,the remaining 27% being degraded Aα chain. In FIG. 8 a RP-HPLCchromatogram is shown for F3 fibrinogen. In this chromatogram it isevident that amount of degraded Au greatly outweighs the amount ofnon-degraded Aα chain as is illustrated by the much reduced non-degradedAα chain peak. It can be calculated that degraded Aα chain represent 62%of total Aα chain present.

It is evident therefore that using the technique of RP-HPLC, as ananalytical tool following Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography, allowsconditions for the Hydrophobic Interaction Chromatography to be selectedto prepare fibrinogen with a defined Aα chain integrity. An example ofthis is given in FIG. 9 which represents elution from the ButylSEPHAROSE (cross-linked beaded agarose) 4 FF column using conditionsoutlined in Example 2 above. From the chromatogram in FIG. 9 it isevident that mainly F1 fibrinogen is selected as the Aα chain is 87%intact.

1. Transgenic fibrinogen having a predetermined F1 fragment to F2fragment ratio, obtainable from milk, at least partly purified, havingat least one of improved stability or increased integrity of thefibrinogen alpha chain.
 2. The transgenic fibrinogen of claim 1 having apre-selected A chain integrity.
 3. The transgenic fibrinogen of claim 1,wherein the fibrinogen comprises at least 80% F1 fibrinogen.
 4. Thetransgenic fibrinogen of any of claims 1 to 3, substantially free fromviral contamination.
 5. The transgenic fibrinogen of any of claims 1 to3, comprising fibrinogen 1, fibrinogen 2, or a combination thereof. 6.The transgenic fibrinogen of claim 1, obtainable by a method of partpurification of fibrinogen having a high Aα-chain integrity from milk,the method comprising the following steps: a) precipitating thefibrinogen from milk; b) separating the precipitated fibrinogen fromprotease enzymes contained in whey and thereby recovering apart-purified fibrinogen, wherein said part-purified fibrinogencomprises a high and low molecular weight sub-fractions; c) contactingthe part-purified fibrinogen with a hydrophobic interactionchromatography resin under conditions wherein the fibrinogen binds tothe resin; and d) removing the bound fibrinogen by means of elutionwherein elution results in the selective removal of said fibrinogensub-fractions to produce high Aα-chain integrity fibrinogen.